São Miguel Island, Azores: guide to planning your trip

Updated on 9 de May de 2026 by Danae

If there’s one island in the Azores you shouldn’t miss, it’s São Miguel.

With easy access, excellent infrastructure, beautiful landscapes, great food, and charming villages, São Miguel brings together everything that makes the Azores special in one island.

São Miguel was our first stop on our Azores one-week itinerary, which also included Pico Island and Terceira Island – check the links for detailed guides to each of these islands.

First of all, follow me on Instagram @danae_explore – that’s where you can keep up with my trips, find lots of travel tips, and send me a DM anytime. I love chatting about travel!

photo of a SATA turboprop plane, the best way to get around the Azores, on a blue sky day

In this post, you will find:

How to get to São Miguel Island, Azores

There are several flights connecting Ponta Delgada Airport, in São Miguel, with Portugal and other European countries, as well as the United States, including low-cost options. We took a Ryanair flight from Lisbon.

From São Miguel, there are flights to several other islands in the archipelago, making it an ideal starting point for an Azores itinerary. Inter-island flights are operated by SATA and are the best way to travel between the islands.

In our post about our Azores itinerary, you’ll find detailed information on how to get to the Azores, which islands to visit, how to travel between them, and everything else you need to plan your trip around the archipelago.
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How to get around São Miguel Island, Azores

When it comes to getting around São Miguel (or any other island in the Azores), there’s no better option than renting a car.

We rented a car through Sixt there are several rental companies operating on the island) and picked it up and returned it at Ponta Delgada Airport. Although there was a small queue when we picked up the car, the process was quick and straightforward, with no issues. The return was also simple and fast; since we had full insurance (with no excess), we didn’t even need an inspection, we just left the keys at the counter inside the airport and headed out.

We found it easy to drive around the island. The roads are all single-lane, well signposted, toll-free, and traffic is calm, as we mentioned in our post about our Azores itinerary.

To rent a car, I always use RentCars, where I usually find the best options, and with the DANAE promo code you still get an additional 5% off. Shall we go?

Main Church of São Sebastião, in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, on a blue sky day with some clouds

Ponta Delgada at sunset, with historic buildings under a cloudy sky and a flower garden in the foreground

Where to stay on São Miguel Island, Azores

The best place to stay on São Miguel Island is the city of Ponta Delgada. Here, you’ll find a wide range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as plenty of restaurants, local shops, and historic sites to explore. The city’s waterfront is also perfect for a relaxing walk in the late afternoon.

Another important factor to consider is that Ponta Delgada is centrally located on the island, making it convenient for exploring the rest of São Miguel.

For this trip, we chose to stay in a really nice place in Ponta Delgada — a little extra comfort never hurts, right?

We stayed at Vila Gale Collection São Miguel, and I highly recommend it. The rooms are excellent, the service is friendly, and the breakfast is great. Plus, it’s all housed in a historic building in the heart of Ponta Delgada, with views of São Brás Fort and the sea.

Other options I considered were Hotel do Colégio, located in a 19th-century building with a great location and excellent value for money, and AC – Armazéns Cogumbreiro, a beautifully restored historic building on the city’s main street, close to several bars, restaurants, and shops. (As you can probably tell, I have a soft spot for hotels in historic buildings!) Believe me, it wasn’t easy to decide between these three options.

For a more budget-friendly option, Azorean Urban Lodge looks great and is highly rated on booking platforms.
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In addition to São Miguel Island, our Azores itinerary also included Pico Island and Terceira Island. Check out the dedicated posts for more details! And for more inspiration, take a look at our two-week Portugal itinerary.

Photo of the cliffs with green vegetation, and the sea to the left, at Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, on a sunny day with some clouds on the horizon — Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint:

What to do on São Miguel Island, Azores

São Miguel Island is the largest and most populous in the Azores, offering the widest range of attractions. We spent two and a half days exploring the island, but even with more time, there would still be plenty to see and do.

Viewpoints are everywhere on São Miguel — along the coast, inland, and around every corner. It might sound like an exaggeration, but every single one is worth a stop. Trust me, you don’t want to miss any of them. It’s impressive how such a small island can have so many beautiful landscapes!

Most viewpoints are easy to access: just park your car, take a few steps, take in the view, breathe deeply, and enjoy the moment before moving on. Of course, if you have the time and the inclination, feel free to stay as long as you like.

Some viewpoints have picnic areas.
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Ponta do Arnel Lighthouse, with sea in the background and sky with some clouds. São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

East side of São Miguel island

Starting from Ponta Delgada and heading inland, we followed a clockwise route along the eastern side of the island, returning to Ponta Delgada in the late afternoon.

Gorreana Tea Factory: Did you know that the Azores are the only place in Europe where tea is grown? I discovered this while planning my trip, which made a visit to Gorreana — one of the island’s main producers — a must.
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Pelado Viewpoint: This was the first viewpoint we visited in the Azores, and it quickly became one of my favorites. It was completely empty, offering a peaceful and beautiful view — perfect!
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Arnel Lighthouse and Ponta do Arnel Waterfall: Park your car in the designated area near the road and continue on foot. The path is steep but short. Avoid driving down — it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Trust me, the walk is absolutely worth it!
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Vista dos Barcos Viewpoint: Located very close to the Arnel Lighthouse viewpoint.
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Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint: This viewpoint features a well-maintained garden and a picnic area.
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From Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint, we drove down to Fajã do Araújo, where you can see the cliffs from a different angle, down by the beach.
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Ponta da Madrugada Viewpoint: Another viewpoint with great facilities and beautiful views.
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Pico Longo Viewpoint and Sunset Viewpoint, both offering views of the island’s interior, with the sea in the background. There’s also Pico dos Bodes Viewpoint nearby, which we didn’t visit, but it looks beautiful.
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Povoação: We stopped in this small village for a quick lunch at Snack Bar O Garoto — a basic but friendly spot; the food was great and very affordable.
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We then continued to the Furnas Volcano Caldera: Our next stop was the Furnas Volcano Caldera, a volcanic area known for its fumaroles and strong sulfur smell. The bubbling thermal pools create an impressive geothermal landscape. It’s one of the island’s must-see spots.
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Terra Nostra Park: One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe, known for its thermal pool and lush vegetation. Bring a swimsuit for a dip — the water, despite its unusual color, is pleasantly warm!
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Poça da Dona Beija: A thermal park with natural pools for swimming. Tickets must be purchased in advance online — when we visited, it was fully booked for the day, but there was availability for the next day. Since we had already visited Terra Nostra Park, we decided to skip it.
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Lagoa de Furnas and Mata Jardim José do Canto: A walk along the shores of the lagoon and a visit to the garden are well worth your time.
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If you have time, visit Pico do Ferro Viewpoint for a beautiful view of Lagoa de Furnas and the surrounding area.
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Lagoa do Fogo: One of the most beautiful lagoons on the island, located high in the mountains, with several hiking trails. Although there are viewpoints like Lagoa do Fogo Viewpoint and Pico da Barrosa Viewpoint, we didn’t get a chance to visit them.
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Thermal pool, with brown waters, and vegetation around, a house in the background, in Parque Terranostra, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

West side of São Miguel Island

The west side of São Miguel Island is home to some of the island’s most iconic viewpoints, including those overlooking Lagoa das Sete Cidades, one of the most famous sights in the Azores. Unfortunately, our visit was affected by fog, which limited the views.

We set out from Ponta Delgada in our rental car, following the main road with Google Maps guiding us to Pico do Carvão Viewpoint — the first in a remarkable sequence of viewpoints:

Pico do Carvão Viewpoint: This viewpoint is said to offer panoramic views of the Sete Cidades Massif and both the north and south sides of the island, but all we saw was fog. Hopefully, you’ll have better luck.
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Carvão Aqueduct: We only caught a glimpse of it from the road.
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Lagoa das Empapadas, Pico do Paul Viewpoint and Grota do Inferno Viewpoint: We passed by these viewpoints as the fog made it difficult to even see the road, let alone the landscape, but they’re definitely worth a stop if the weather is clear.
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Lagoa do Canário: There are some short trails in the area with views of this lagoon and Sete Cidades.
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Vista do Rei Viewpoint: This is one of the most iconic views in the Azores. The two lagoons — Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul in Sete Cidades — sit inside the crater of an ancient volcano, creating a beautiful panorama. Unfortunately, when we visited, the fog was so thick that we could barely see anything!
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Cerrado das Freiras Viewpoint: Overlooking Sete Cidades, this viewpoint gave us the best view of the lagoons that have made São Miguel Island so popular on Instagram.
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Santiago Lagoon Viewpoint: Located almost directly across the road from Cerrado das Freiras Viewpoint — easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
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Continuing along the road, you’ll pass through the town of Sete Cidades and cross the bridge that separates Lagoa Verde from Lagoa Azul.
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Arriving at the coast, we turned left and headed to Porta do Diabo and the Ferraria Lighthouse and Viewpoint. Nearby are the Termas da Ferraria (Ferraria Hot Springs), which feature thermal pools, but they were closed during our visit. It’s worth walking down to the coast to see where the sea meets the black volcanic rocks. The rough sea crashing against the dark rocks created a dramatic, almost otherworldly scene.

From there, we continued towards Mosteiros, stopping at Miradouro da Ponta do Escavaldo (Ponta do Escavaldo Viewpoint).

In Mosteiros, it’s worth stopping at Ponta dos Mosteiros and the Piscinas Naturais Carneiros (Carneiros Natural Pools). When we visited, the temperature and tide weren’t ideal for swimming, but it’s worth bringing a swimsuit — you might have better luck! You can also visit Mosteiros Beach, a small black stone beach with large rocks in the ocean that make for great photos.

In the village of Mosteiros, we had lunch at Gazcidla Restaurant. We had initially planned to eat at O Américo de Barbosa, but the wait was longer than we were willing to handle.
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Ferraria Viewpoint, cliffs with green undergrowth on the left side of the photo, and the sea on the right, there is a church in the background. — Ferraria Viewpoint

Ponta Delgada

The main city of the Azores is well worth a few hours of your time. In addition to strolling through the charming historic center — which makes it clear you’re in Portugal — here are some of the most interesting places to visit in the city.
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Portas da Cidade (City Gates): One of Ponta Delgada’s most iconic landmarks, these gates were originally built between 1783 and 1785 during the reign of Queen Maria I as part of the city’s urban development. They are located in Praça Gonçalo Velho, near the main church.
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Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião: This impressive Baroque church dates back to the 16th century. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited, so if you plan to go, be sure to check the website for opening hours or Mass times.
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António Borges Garden: A lovely, century-old garden built between 1858 and 1861, offering a peaceful break in the city center, with ancient trees, lakes, and caves. The José do Canto Botanical Garden is also worth a visit.
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Ponta Delgada Marina: Perfect for a late afternoon stroll.
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Convento da Esperança: This historic convent is known for the Sanctuary of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres and its traditional tiles. Nearby, you’ll find Campo de São Francisco square and São José Church.
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Fortress of São Brás: A 16th-century fortress with views over the city and the Atlantic Ocean.
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Mercado da Graça: A traditional market where you can find fresh local products such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and handicrafts.
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Have you checked out our complete Azores 1 week itinerary?

City Gates, statue of Gonçalo Velho Cabral in the foreground

Portas da Cidade and the main church of Ponta Delgada, with white buildings and black volcanic stone details

Where to eat on São Miguel Island

Let me tell you something: people in the Azores really know how to eat well! Everything we tried on the islands was absolutely delicious. I’m a big fan of Portuguese cuisine and had high expectations, but the food in the Azores exceeded them all.

Be sure to try the seafood (just thinking about the octopus makes my mouth water), the traditional cod dishes, and some of São Miguel’s specialties: “cozido das Furnas” (a stew slow-cooked underground using volcanic heat), “lapas” (grilled limpets), and “bolo levedo” (a slightly sweet, fluffy flatbread).

In Ponta Delgada, we had lunch at O Patanisca, on the main street in the city center, close to our hotel; at A Tasca, also downtown and often considered one of the best restaurants on the island (there was a huge queue when we visited); and at Cais da Sardinha, by the sea, with glass walls—perfect for watching the sunset.

Outside Ponta Delgada, as I mentioned earlier, we ate at Gazcidla Restaurant in Mosteiros and had a quick bite at Snack Bar o Garoto in Povoação. I recommend both for a quick and satisfying meal while exploring these areas of São Miguel Island.
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Lapas, a typical dish of Azorean cuisine

Polvo à lagareiro (octopus dish) served in the Azores, Portugal

Map with our complete Azores itinerary

Here is our detailed one-week Azores itinerary! On the map below, you’ll find all the details — just click and save it to your Google account. That way, when you start planning your trip to the Azores, you’ll already have a great starting point! 😉

All our posts about Portugal, to inspire you and help you plan your trip:

And here are our posts about other destinations in Europe, come check them out!

Scandinavia

Greece

Spain

Balcans

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